Some conversations just stay with you.

You finish recording, you take the mic off, and you sit there for a second thinking… wow.

That’s exactly how I felt after sitting down with Chef Nicole Barrera on Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast.

Because behind the titles, the restaurants, and the career she’s built, there’s something even more powerful.

A story about knowing who you are, trusting it, and staying true to it every step of the way.

Nicole’s story starts the way so many great food stories do.

Around the table.

Big Italian-Portuguese family.

Holidays, parties, noise, energy… and always food at the center of it all.

Helping her mom.

Paying attention to what people liked.

Understanding that food wasn’t just about eating—it was about connection.

And sitting there listening to her on Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast, I kept thinking… that’s it.

That’s where it begins for so many of us.

This part made me smile.

Nicole wanted a beeper.

Her dad told her if she wanted one, she had to go get a job.

So at 14 years old, she started busing tables.

And just like that, everything changed.

Because it wasn’t just a job.

It was the kitchen.

It was the movement.

It was watching something as simple as a potato turn into five different dishes depending on how it was handled.

She called it the “spiderweb of food.”

And she was hooked.

One thing I really respected about Nicole is how early she knew where she fit.

The kitchen.

Back of the house.

She tried the front of the house, and it didn’t feel right.

And instead of forcing it, she leaned into what did.

That’s not always easy.

But it’s important.

Because when you find where you belong, everything changes.

Nicole didn’t just work.

She worked.

Multiple jobs.

Long hours.

Learning how to manage money.

Building discipline early.

And then came her time in a hospital kitchen.

Which, honestly, is one of the best training grounds there is.

Cleanliness.

Precision.

Systems.

Safety.

That kind of foundation stays with you.

And you can see it in how she leads today.

When Nicole first studied T-Bones in school, she didn’t see it as anything special.

Just a local restaurant.

But the more she looked, the more she realized something deeper was happening.

People stayed.

Employees built careers.

There was culture.

There was loyalty.

And that’s what drew her in.

Even with degrees in hand, Nicole didn’t walk into a leadership role.

She started as a server.

And I love that.

Because in this industry, you earn your place.

She learned the front of the house.

Worked her way into management.

Helped open locations.

And eventually made her way back to where she always wanted to be—the kitchen.

This might be my favorite part of her story.

The pink chef jacket.

When she stepped into a corporate culinary role, she made a decision to show up as herself.

Bright.

Bold.

Different.

People questioned it.

Would she be taken seriously?

But she didn’t change it.

Because it was her.

And now, it’s her signature.

That’s a powerful reminder.

The things that make you different are often the things that define you.

On Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast, Nicole walked through what it really takes to build a menu.

And it’s not just creativity.

It’s data.

Food cost.

Sales trends.

Kitchen flow.

Vendor relationships.

Guest expectations.

And then testing.

Again and again.

Adjusting.

Refining.

Launching quietly before the public even sees it.

And then starting over.

It’s constant.

What I loved was how clearly she defined each brand.

T-Bones is comfort food with a twist.

Cactus Jack’s brings bold, southwest flavor.

Copper Door is more refined, but still approachable.

Different experiences.

Same commitment to quality.

And that consistency is what keeps people coming back.

If there’s one thing Nicole wants people to understand, it’s this.

They don’t cut corners.

Everything is made from scratch.

Sauces.

Dressings.

Soups.

Even breadcrumbs.

There’s a full system behind the scenes making it all happen.

And that’s not the easy way.

But it’s the right way.

Before we wrapped up, we talked about Feed NH.

And this part really stood out.

Over $1 million given back to the community.

Supporting families.

Education.

People who need it most.

And every dollar stays local.

That says everything about who they are.

This episode of Beyond the Plate with Carol Podcast stayed with me.

Because Nicole’s story isn’t just about success.

It’s about showing up.

Working hard.

Knowing who you are.

And staying true to it.

Because at the end of the day, this industry is built on people.

And the stories they carry with them.

Watch and listen to my full conversation with Chef Nicole Barrera and hear the story behind a career built on passion, purpose, and staying true to yourself.

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ABOUT CAROL ERICKSON

Carol Erickson has owned Red Arrow Diner since 1987 -- four locations across New Hampshire, open 24/7. She started Beyond the Plate to tell the real stories behind the people who make New England's food and hospitality scene what it is. Not just what's on the menu. What's behind it.

Red Arrow Diner: redarrowdiner.com  |  @redarrow24diner